Rep. Gay-Dagnogo invites Detroiters to birthday cleanup celebration

Celebrating the long and rich history of Detroit – a city since 1701 – state Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D-Detroit) will be celebrating the city’s 314th birthday by hosting her first annual birthday bash community cleanup on Friday, July 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Crowell Community Center and Hope Park, 16630 Lahser Road in Detroit. A city that is older than the country it belongs to deserves a little sprucing up! Rep. Gay-Dagnogo’s office, along with volunteers from UAW Region 1A, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, Operating Engineers 324 of Michigan, Detroit Police Officers Association and Detroit firefighters, will be boarding up houses, mowing lawns and cleaning up a few abandoned properties to help contribute to the city’s rich legacy.

Moreover, continental breakfast will be provided to volunteers during the Blight Removal Kickoff & Continental Breakfast at 8 a.m. at Hope Church, 16621 Lahser Rd. in Detroit, and lunch will be served to all in attendance. The event will feature morning Motown Zumba with former Miss USA Carole Gist, Chair Aerobics and a #HowDetRU #HulaHoop contest and activities for seniors. As a community, the groundwork will be laid so that the city is here, strong and robust, for another 314 years.

“Everything we do as citizens should reflect and strengthen our city’s pride,” said Gay-Dagnogo. “This is not just a celebration of a landmark, but the embodiment of our city’s resilience, historical presence on the global stage and an embodiment of our motto, ‘Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus,’ Latin for ‘We hope for better things; it shall rise from the ashes.’” Gay-Dagnogo proclaims, “We gave the world its soundtrack. We are Motown! We are the Motor City!”